A sign hangs at a rally on July 1, 2016, in Montpelier, Vt., protesting a proposal by Congress that would allow companies to use computer labels to indicate whether a product has been made with the help... (AP Photo/Wilson Ring)

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A bill requiring food packages to carry information on genetically modified ingredients has passed Congress—and NPR reports that neither side of the debate is thrilled about it. Farm groups and food industry lobbyists are opposed to any kind of mandatory labeling, while those calling for GMO labels complain that the bill allows food companies to provide a QR code or even just a phone number consumers can call instead of stating on the packaging whether the product contains GMO ingredients. The bill, which President Obama is expected to sign into law, was approved by the Senate last week and sailed through the House 306-117 on Thursday, the AP reports.

The compromise bill on GMO labeling was blasted as a "sham" by some pro-labeling groups and supported by food companies that wanted a national standard—preferably a loose one—instead of state-by-state regulations, BuzzFeed reports. Vermont brought in its own, more stringent law on GMO labeling at the start of this month, and state lawmakers, including Bernie Sanders, argued against the federal bill. "It's a shame that Congress chose to replace our standard with a weaker one that provides multiple ways for the food industry to avoid transparent labeling," Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin said in a statement. (Last year, the FDA approved a genetically engineered animal for human consumption.)

MANY CORPORATION HAVE STARTED LABELING THEIR PRODUCTS WITH THE GMO LABELING IN PLAIN ENGLISH BECAUSE IT IS NOT A PRICE CHANGER , ALL OTHER INFORMATION ON FOOD PACKAGES ARE IN PLAIN ENGLISH EXCEPT THE PRICE AND FOR THAT YOU GOT TO HAVE A CASH REGISTER SCANNER TO READ . MY QUESTION TO CONGRESS IS WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE THAT THIS FORM OF HIDING INFO FROM THE CONSUMERS WAS A GOOD IDEA. THE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET. THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, FAR FROM IT.

julianpenrod

Jul 15, 2016 5:48 PM CDT

More of the same garbage. Among other things, not surprising that SJay would use abusive name calling. Liars often engage in such tactics. The fact is, husbandry and selective breeding are not genetic engineering. Genetic engineering, by its nature, by its name, is engaging in operations that nature would not do, Like introducing genes from one totally unrelated species of fish, the Atlantic pout, into salmon. Touting the lie that selective breeding is the same as genetic engineering, RU_Serious tries an old scam of saying that those who oppose genetically engineered food are secretly really opposed to Capitalism. Of course, such as RU_Serious won't admit that shills for genetically engineered food aren't invoking “feeding the starving millions” to hide their eminent worship of greed. It should be mentioned that sources from Popular Science to Forbes admits that grain supposedly derived from genetically engineered plants is filling silos to the bursting point, but is being allowed to stay there and rot, because “distribution is too expensive”. It should be mentioned, too, that, part of the bill is that a food has to be labeled as containing genetically engineered components only if the genetic material gets into the product. If an outgrowth, say, some unnatural combination of oils or fats or minerals get into the product, they don't ghave to label it as genetically engineered.

gjsals

Jul 15, 2016 5:33 PM CDT

Politicians are such self serving scum bags. They have to spend weeks debating this. GMO= YES or NO. These douche bags use us citizens like bathroom tissue.